lewis



(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet I. W. P. LEWIS.

PNEUMATIC DREDGING MAGHINE. No. 355,094. Patented Dec. 28,1886.

[HWI'IJJ I WITNESSES .INVENTOR M #ia ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. PLLEWIS.

PNEUMATIC DBEDGINGMAGHINE. No. 355,094.

. -WI TNE V I INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N4 PETERS. Pholo-Lithngrapher. waning-mimic.

\UNITED STATES PATENT, FFICEO WILLIAM P. LEWIS, OF OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

I PNEUM'ATlC DREDGING-MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,094, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed February 24, 1886. Serial No. 193,017. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. LEWIS, of Oroville, in the county of Butte and State of California, have invented a new and Improved with induction and eduction ports, and a means for producing the vacuum required to operate the machine. I

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved pneumatic dredging-machine, a portion of the side wall of the vacuum-chamber being cut away to disclose the construction of the parts, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line war of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of my improved *dredgingmachine, the steamchest being shown in central vertical section. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine.

Referring now to the general construction illustrated in the drawings above referred to, A represents the main vacuum-chamber having an induction-port, a, and an eduction-port,

b, the induction-port being closed by a clapvalve, B, which opens within the vacuum-chamber,while the eduction-port is closed by a similar valve, B, which opens outward from the vacuum-chamber. Atone side of the chamberA there is arranged a cylinder, 0, which extends downward somewhat below the bottom of the chamber and carries an adjustable extending cylinder, D, so fitted that it will slide up between the cylinder 0 and the vacuum-chamber, an inwardly-projecting flange, 0, being formed at the upper end of the cylinder, which flange is arranged to fit closely about the exterior face of the cylinder 0. A flange, d, is formed at the lower end of the cylinder 0, and fits against the inner face of the cylinder D, from which construction it followsthat the cylinder D may be moved upward or downward upon the cylinder O.

A central vertical shaft, E, enters the cylinder 0 through a packing-box, F, an agitator, G, being fixed to the lower end of said shaft,

bevel-gear, J, that is arranged to engage with the gear H. Motion is imparted to the shaft I by means of an engine, K, and as the shaft revolves it operates a pump, L, which is connected to a crank-pin, M, carried by the balauce-wheel O of the shaft I, and the shaft also operates the valve of a steam-chest, N, through the medium of the connecting-rod P, which engages with an eccentric arm on the shalt I, said steam-chest being connected with a vacuum-chamber, A, by means of a pipe, S. The action of the valve of the steam-chest N and of the pump L are so timed that after the steam has been admitted through the pipe S into the chamber A the pump L will inject a stream of water, thereby condensing the steam and creating a vacuum within said chamber A. When the valve in the steam-chest N opens and the steam passes into the chamber A, the pressure of steam from pipe S forces up the piston of the engine K, and when the steam is condensed the pressure of the atmosphere forces the piston down, thus providing for a continuous action of the engine. Now, as the shaft I revolves it imparts a rotary motion to the agitator G, so that the matter to be excavated is somewhat loosened. As the matter becomes loosened the adjustable cylinder D is lowered until its lower end is embedded in the material to be elevated, and ifso embedded it will be readily understood that when a vacuum is created in the chamber Athe pressure of the atmosphere will force the' material up through the cylinders D and 0, through the induction-port a, and into the chamber A, from which chamber it will be discharged through the port I), it being understood that at the time of the formation of the vacuum the valve B will be drawn against its seat.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

an agitator, G, carried by a vertical shaft, E, which passes upward through the suctionchamber, extending outward through a packing-box, F, a shaft; I, gears H and J, steam- I chest N, pump L, and a driving-engine, substantially as described.

WILLIAM P. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

JOHN G. GRAY, WILLIAM Y. BLIss. 

